The mixing process is what ultimately turns a collection of recorded tracks into a completed and well rounded musical product. In other words, recording is the process of capturing a performance, and mixing is the process of defining the way in which the listener will experience that performance. A well mixed song should sound clear, sound great, sound big and sound natural, all while allowing every element within the song to be heard clearly without overpowering the rest of the music. This is why it is so important for aspiring audio engineers, producers and musicians to have a solid knowledge of mixing basics.
Balancing clarity, depth, and dynamics is not just technical. It is an art. Every EQ, pan, and compression choice affects the emotional impact of a piece of music and the way it feels to listen to it.
Here’s what you need to know about clarity in a mix.
Clarity refers to the ability to distinguish each instrument or vocalist, and to hear the nuances of the music without it sounding murky. If the music isn’t clear, it doesn’t matter how perfectly it was played, it’s still going to sound muddled or disorganized.
The first step towards clarity is frequency management. Each instrument has a home frequency and when two frequencies overlap, they can mask each other.
EQUALIZATION (for SEPARATION) The goal here is to make each track sound like it’s separated as much as possible from the others, but not necessarily making them sound good. I use an EQ to find frequencies where each track stands out from the rest. For example, I might boost the guitar at 2.5k to accentuate the pick sound. Or, I might find that the vocal mostly lives in a specific frequency area compared to the rest of the track. Sometimes, a high-pass filter on the vocal mic is all you need to separate it from a bass-heavy mix. Some frequencies might get too boomy when the singer gets close to the mic. Find a frequency where the proximity effect is more noticeable and cut that frequency a bit. Cut or boost aggressively to hear what’s happening. Let your ears decide which frequencies are important.
EQ can be used to balance the frequencies within each track. Low end cuts can be used on non-bass instruments to prevent them from becoming muddy. Key frequencies can be boosted to make vocal and lead instruments jump out.
Here is an example:
Try using high-pass filters on guitars, keys, and even vocals to declutter the low end.
Increasing the presence frequencies (2-5 kHz region) of a vocal will make the voice sound clearer.
panning and stereo placement
We use panning to place instruments left and right in the stereo image, which helps give the mix some width and prevents different instruments from fighting for the same space. In most cases, the lead vocal and bass are panned dead centre, but other instruments can be panned anywhere from hard left to hard right to help separate them.
To Consider When Stacking and Organizing
Take the time to arrange your parts to prevent them from clashing before you start mixing. For example, if you have two instruments that play in the same frequency range, see if you can have one play up an octave, or with a different texture.
Now that we have talked about contrast, let’s discuss the easiest way to create the illusion of depth in your photographs.
In a mix, depth creates a 3D soundscape which provides an open feel rather than a two dimensional sound. This is done by applying volume, reverb, delay and frequency content.
Now, onto the Reverb and Ambience.
Reverb adds a sense of environment or space to a sound. A reverb-heavy sound sounds more distant, while a drier sound sounds more present. Use the reverb’s controls, such as the decay time and wet/dry mix, to find the right distance.
Volume and Fader Position
Generally speaking, volume can add some depth. A quieter sound feels further away than a louder one. I’d also advise against having everything at a similar volume. This will just make your mix sound flat.
How to EQ for distance
“High-frequency information helps with distance. If background instruments are a little softer in the high end, it will push them further back. I also pull the low end out of the background instruments a bit to make it clear, cut down some of the muddiness.”
Managing Dynamics
Dynamics are the volumes of your track. It needs to be controlled in order to have dynamics otherwise your music would be boring and tiring.
Data Compression
The effect of compression is to decrease the overall dynamic range of a song, bringing up the softer sections and attenuating the louder sections. This can make a vocal sit more consistently in the mix, give drums more impact, or make the mix sound more cohesive.
Fast attack for peak control, slow release to keep the transient moving.
Use just the right amount of compression: Too much compression can make a song feel dead.
Automation
Automation lets you control volume, panning and effects in real time. This ability to change these things lets you bring emotion to your work and make important parts stand out and the less important parts stay in the background.
Equal Loudness. Ensure that the overall loudness of all tracks is roughly equal. If you have an especially loud or quiet instrument, make sure it doesn’t clash with the other tracks.
A mix that isn’t balanced is unpleasant to listen to. Make sure that the levels between sections of your mix (verse to chorus, or verse to instrumental, etc.) are even. A well gain-staged mix means that one instrument isn’t drowning out others and also that the mix isn’t clipping.
Frequency Balancing
Every single track in a mix adds to its frequency spectrum. A balanced frequency spectrum would mean that the lows, mids and highs are in balance.
Low end: kick, bass, foundation. Sounds get muddy when they overlap too much.
Mids: This is where the vocals, guitars and synths sit. We need to maintain clarity in this area.
High end: cymbals, hi-hats, and brightness in vocals or leads should sparkle without sounding sharp.
A reference track can come in handy for detecting balance issues and to aid in making corrections.
What is stereo imaging doing in all this?
Stereo imaging improves clarity and depth. Subtle panning, width-enhancing tools and mid/side processing can place elements in specific locations. A broad stereo image creates an expansive mix, but keeping the bass and lead vocal in the center keeps it grounded.
Mixing Mistakes to Avoid
A lot of newbies have mixes that sound overly busy or boringly one-dimensional. Some typical reasons for this include:
Muddying up the low end
Too much reverb that masks definition
The excessive compression, diminishing dynamic value
Ignoring the importance of stereo imaging, resulting in a thin or cluttered mix
To prevent these, you need to listen, adjust, and take time-outs to keep your objectivity.